Best Brother Sewing Machine for Your Creative Needs

If you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, you know just how overwhelming it can be to choose.  Just when you think you’ve made up your mind, you see another machine that you know you need to check out.

If you’ve narrowed down your search to a Brother sewing machine, this article is for you.  If you’re wondering which is the best Brother sewing machine for your creative projects, we’re breaking it all down for you here.

One of the great things about Brother sewing machines is they have so many models at a variety of price ranges to suit any sewist, from the beginning crafter to the experienced quilter.  

This guide breaks down the most popular, well-rated models by price point, features and reviews so you know you’ll be getting the right machine without getting a ton of features you won’t use or breaking the bank.

Now let’s have a look…

Top Picks for Best Brother Sewing Machine

Here are our top 10 choices for the best Brother sewing machine, at different price points and different feature levels.  Make sure to look at each choice to make sure it offers the features you need for your particular sewing situation.

This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is sort of boring, but you can find it here.

Best Brother Sewing Machine for Quilting – CS6000i

All the Details

• Bobbin: Top Drop-in
• Stitch Speed Adjustment: Yes
• Number of Stitches: 60
• Buttonholer: 7 styles
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: Yes

What We Like

• Wide table sewing surface
• Free arm
• Has both an auto threader and stitch speed control
• Comes with a walking foot and other specialty feet

What We Don’t Like

• Bobbin can be a bit finicky until you get used to it.

Our Verdict

This computerized machine is a great value for the price. You can’t beat the number of features for the price: automatic threader, drop-in bobbin, stitch speed control, free arm, etc. This machine comes with lots of features that make it easy to learn to sew and will last your beginning sewist for years to come. The added walking foot is a great accessory if you plan to do any quilting in the future.

Best Brother Sewing Machine for Beginners – XM2701

All the Details

• Number of Stitches: 27
• Bobbin type: Top Drop-in
• Buttonholer: 1 step buttonholer
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: Yes

What We Like

• Comes with 6 extra presser feet
• Lots of stitches to choose from
• Built-in accessory storage
• Comes with a hard carrying case

What We Don’t Like

• Have to have a DVD player for the instructional video
• Speed can be hard to control for new sewists

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for a great quality, simple machine without all the electronics, this brother is one of the best mechanical sewing machines. With lots of features at a great price, this one should definitely be on your shortlist. This is our top choice in the lowest price category.

You’ll be able to whip up some easy projects in no time with this Brother sewing machine.

Best Brother Project Runway Sewing Machine – CS5055PRW

All the Details

• Number of Stitches: 50
• Bobbin type: Top drop-in
• Buttonholer: 5 styles
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: Yes

What We Like

• Drop feed for quilting projects
• Comes with 6 extra presser feet
• Lightweight and portable
• You can set it up to have needle up or needle down
• Comes with a twin needle

What We Don’t Like

• Instruction manual could be clearer

Our Verdict

This machine is perfect for a beginner. It has everything a new sewist would need in a lightweight and affordable package. With 50 stitches and 87 stitch functions, this machine is a good choice for the beginning garment maker or quilter.

Best Brother Sewing Machine for Embroidery – SE1900

All the Details

• Embroidery Area: 5″ x 7″
• Built-in Designs: 138
• Built-in Fonts: 11 (7 English, 3 Japanese, 1 Cyrillic)
• Number of Needles: 1
• Screen Size: 3.2″
• Import Ability: USB Port

What We Like

• You can design and save your own custom sewing stitches
• You can rotate, mirror, increase and decrease designs using the LCD screen
• 25-year limited warranty and free customer service

What We Don’t Like

• Needle threader can be finicky

Our Verdict

This combination sewing and monogramming machine does a good job at balancing the best of both worlds. It’s easy to learn and the manual is clearly written. It’s a good choice for the middle range price point.

Best Heavy Duty Brother Sewing Machine – ST371HD

All the Details

• Number of Stitches: 37
• Bobbin type: Top drop-in
• Buttonholer: One step buttonholer
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: Yes

What We Like

• One-step automatic buttonholer
• Good selection of presser feet
• Metal needle plate
• Twin needle capable
• Drop feed
• Free Arm

What We Don’t Like

• Feels a bit “plastic-y”
• LED light not very bright

Our Verdict

This machine has a free arm that comes in handy for hemming jeans and does a good job doing the tasks a sewist would want in a mechanical machine. This machine is good for everyday sewing and can handle heavy-duty fabrics like canvas and denim. It’s a solid choice at this price point, so we put it in our list of the best brother sewing machines.

Best Brother Sewing Machine for Commercial Use – PQ1500SL

All the Details

• Maximum speed: 1500 stitches/minute
• Number of Stitches: Straight stitch only
• Bobbin type: Vertical
• Buttonholer: No
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: No

What We Like

• Automatic needle threader
• Knee lifter
• Pin feed system is good for delicate fabrics
• Built-in cone thread stand

What We Don’t Like

• This fast machine is not a good choice for a beginner sewist

Our Verdict

This industrial machine is a winner for both straight stitching and quilting. The adjustable pin feed system works well on a variety of thicknesses.

Best Brother Serger/Overlocker Machine

All the Details

• Number of Stitches:
• Stitch Speed: 1300 stitches/minute
• Free Arm: Yes
• Stitch width: 3.0 mm to 7.0 mm

What We Like

• Adjustable stitch width
• Easy to thread
• Comes with 3 accessory feet
• Built-in storage
• Free technical support

What We Don’t Like

• It can be noisy if you aren’t used to sergers
• Instructions can be confusing for a newbie

Our Verdict

This Brother serger/overlocker machine is a good value. It has a sturdy metal frame and does a good job on most types of fabric. A must for any garment sewer, this serger is our favorite of the Brother machines.

Best Brother Disney Embroidery Machine – PE550D

All the Details

• Embroidery Area: 4″ x 4″
• Built-in Designs: 125 including 45 Disney Designs
• Built-in Fonts: 9
• Number of Needles: 1
• Screen Size: 3.2″
• Import Ability: USB Port

What We Like

• This special model has built-in Disney designs for Mickey Mouse fans
• Auto needle threader

What We Don’t Like

• While the Disney designs are fun, it means it has fewer regular built-in designs
• 3 fonts are actually Japanese font styles
• Requires the purchase of software if you want to do more than the built-in designs

Our Verdict

This machine works great for smaller monogramming projects. It’s easy to use and lettering can be edited on the touch screen in several different ways. Good entry-level choice so it’s on our list of the best brother monogramming machines out there.

This machine is also available with an embroidery pack for Marvel fans and Star Wars fanatics.

Best Brother Lightweight Sewing Machine – XM2701

All the Details

• Number of Stitches: 27
• Bobbin type: Top Drop-in
• Buttonholer: 1 step buttonholer
• Automatic Threader: Yes
• Free Arm: Yes

What We Like

• Comes with 6 extra presser feet
• Lots of stitches to choose from
• Built-in accessory storage
• Comes with a hard carrying case

What We Don’t Like

• Have to have a DVD player for the instructional video
• Speed can be hard to control for new sewists

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for a lightweight, simple machine without all the electronics, this brother is one of the best mechanical sewing machines. With lots of features at a great price, this one should definitely be on your shortlist. This is our top choice in the lowest price category. This Brother sewing machine is also a great choice if you’re looking for the best sewing machine for kids.

Why Buy a Brother Sewing Machine?

Founded in 1908, Brother has become one of the most popular sewing machine brands in the world.   One of the reasons they’ve remained so popular is the fact that they manufacture so many kinds of quality machines at so many price points.

• Mechanical Sewing Machines
• Computerized Sewing Machines
• Quilting Machines
• Embroidery Machines
• Sergers and Overlocker Machines
• Heavy Duty Machines
• Industrial Machines and more…

If you’ve ever seen an episode of Project Runway, you’ve seen these Brother workhorses in action.  

Full of cutting edge features and easy to use and maintain, Brother sewing machines can satisfy any sewist from the newbie to the expert. 

Brother machines are easy to find online and at your local fabric store.  They’re easy to use, durable machines with tons of innovative features.

Different Types of Brother Sewing Machines

The best Brother sewing machine for you definitely depends on the kind of sewing you want to do.  With nearly 70 different models, you’ll need to narrow down your sewing machine hunt by the features you’ll need most.

Brother Mechanical Sewing Machines

A mechanical machine is a great place to start when you’re a new sewist and is the perfect best sewing machine for kids.  With no electronics and fewer settings to confuse you, a mechanical machine can get all the basic sewing jobs done without any expensive bells and whistles that you don’t need.

Brother Heavy Duty Sewing Machines

If you plan on sewing heavy materials like leather, denim, and canvas, make sure to look for a machine that has a heavy-duty motor, and the speed and power to sew through several thick layers of fabric. 

Brother Embroidery Machines

If embroidery is your jam, you’ll want a machine with a large embroidery area, lots of built-in specialty designs and monograms for all your creative projects. 

Brother Quilting Machines

If you’re a quilter, Brother has a machine for you.  Designed with an extra-large workspace and more room to maneuver a rolled up quilt, these specialized machines make quilting a joy.

Brother Serger and Overlocker Machines

If you’re interested in garment sewing or want to sew knit fabrics with ease, sergers and overlockers are a must.  With the ability to sew and finish a seam in one step, a serger can take your sewing to a professional level. 

Brother Specialty Embroidery Machines

Brother makes special edition embroidery machines preloaded with built-in embroidery designs.  If you’re looking for a Disney embroidery machine, want a Marvel Comics Embroidery Machine or a Star Wars embroidery machine, Brother makes a special machine to make you happy.

Brother Industrial Sewing Machines

With machines that can sew up to 1800 stitches per minute, brother makes machines that fit into a heavy-duty, high use environment.

Advantages of a Brother Sewing Machine

Brother sewing machines are known for being durable, reliable machines.

One of their key advantages is their ease of operation.  Brother machines are easy to thread, easy to use, and easy to maintain.  

These sewing machines have a ton of innovative, cutting edge features that are offered at a good price compared to some of the other more expensive sewing machine brands out there. 

These quality machines have good warranties to give you the peace of mind you need when investing in a new sewing machine.

How Much Does a Brother Sewing Machine Cost?

One of the amazing things about Brother is they have a machine for every need and price point.  

If you’re a beginner sewist and have less than $100 to spend, there are several good quality machines in your price range.  These machines have fewer features than their more expensive counterparts but have all the basic features you’ll need to get started.  The Brother XM27091 is our top pick in the budget price range.

Jump up into the next price point, and you can expect more advanced features like variable needle position, variable stitch speed, the ability to drop the feed dogs, etc.  You can expect to pay around $200 at this level. The Brother CS6000i is our top pick in this range.

If you’re in the market for a commercial-grade machine, expect to pay upwards of $500. Our favorite Brother industrial sewing machine is the Brother PQ1500SL.

Features to Look For in The Best Brother Sewing Machine

This is a list of features to look for in general in a good sewing machine.

The features you’ll find on each individual best Brother sewing machine depend on your sewing needs.

For instance, if you’re looking for the best Brother serger, you won’t be concerned with the number of built-in stitches. So take your purpose into consideration when evaluating each machine’s features.

Number Of Built-In Stitches

Make sure the machine you choose has enough stitches to keep you happy when you’re creating, but not so many that it adds extra complexity (and cost) to the machine.

Most beginning sewists will need at the minimum, a straight stitch (for woven fabrics), and a zig-zag stitch (for knits/stretch fabrics, and for edge finishing).

Sew for a while and you’ll discover your favorite go-to stitches. I’ve been sewing for years and haven’t used half of the built-in stitches on my machine.

Machine Weight & Construction

This can be a tough one…you want a machine heavy enough not to shake and shimmy when you sew quickly, but light enough to be portable and easy to move around.

The moral of the story is lighter isn’t usually better than a medium weight machine.

Look for a heavy-duty model if you’re going to be sewing heavier materials like canvas, denim or leather.   If you want to sew these tougher fabrics look for a metal case and a more powerful motor.

If you’re looking for an industrial machine, the heavier the better.

Free Arm

A free arm system is a necessity if you want to sew anything that’s like a small tube. (Like sleeves, pant legs, scrunchies, etc.)

Most machines have a stitch platform that slides off leaving a free arm left so you can easily sew smaller diameter items.

Drop Feed

If you think you may want to try any kind of free-motion sewing like quilting, pick a mechanical machine that has the ability to drop the feed dogs. This feature is standard on the best Brother sewing machines for embroidery and quilting.

Adjustable Needle Position

Being able to shift the needle position to the right or left really comes in handy when you’re topstitching or putting in a zipper or cording. This feature usually is only found on the more expensive sewing machines but is a great feature to have if you think you may want to try your hand at garment sewing.

Needle Up/Down

If you choose a machine with this feature, you can set the machine to stop with the needle up or down in the fabric, so you can easily pivot around angles as you sew.

Knee Lift for Presser Foot

The knee lift feature acts as an extra hand, allowing you to keep both hands on the fabric while you raise or lower the presser foot with your knee. This feature is commonly found on quilting and industrial machines.

Accessories & Presser Feet

Most of the best Brother sewing machines come with a collection of basic presser feet, but many machines come with extra presser feet for jobs like zippers and buttonholes.  These can really make your sewing life easier if you are planning to make garments and clothing.

If you think you’ll need to expand to more presser feet in the future, look for the best Brother sewing machine that offers a range of presser feet as options to buy later.

Extra Features

Most sewing machines come with some handy features, but not a comprehensive list.  Make sure you consider if you’ll want to have features like LED lighting, automatic buttonholers, accessory box, etc. 

Stitch Speed

If you’re looking for the best Brother sewing machine for commercial or industrial use, a high stitch per minute is of utmost importance if you want to get the most out of your machine.

Speed Control

Speed control is a great feature to have if you are looking for the best Brother sewing machine for a beginner sewist. It’s great to be able to crank the speed down until they get the hang of using the machine.

Warranty

Most sewing machines come with a limited warranty. Check the fine print because the terms can vary by type of machine.

Summary:  Our Top Picks at Each Price Point

You can get the best Brother Sewing Machine for your needs no matter the price point.  Here are our top three choices at three different price levels.

The Takeaway:  Which is the Best Brother Sewing Machine for Me?

Once you’ve narrowed down your search for a new sewing machine to the Brother brand, take a look at what kind of projects you’ll want to make on your new machine.  

Ultimately, your sewing plans will dictate the features you choose, and those features will determine which is the best Brother sewing machine for you.

No matter which machine you use, you can be sure it will be your partner in your creative projects for years to come.

Happy Creating!